A surgical assistance system includes an endomicroscope (4) and an imaging device (2) for capturing image data, and a transmission unit (63) for transmitting the image data. A pathology unit (70) includes a receiving unit (74) for receiving the image data and a display unit (76) displays the image data. A data connection (69) connects the transmission unit (63) to the receiving unit (74). The imaging device (2) and/or the endomicroscope (4) has at least one functional unit assigned to a functional control unit (65). A data receiving unit (64) receives data from the pathology unit (70). The pathology unit (70) has an input unit (77) for inputting functional control data for the functional control unit (65) and a transmitter unit (73) transmits the functional control data to the devices. The data receiving unit (64) receives and relays the functional control data to the functional control unit (65).
